The chemistry of univalent metal β-diketiminates

The easily electronically and sterically tunable β-diketiminates are widely used auxiliary ligands for the creation of a wide range of metal complexes with various oxidation states in all groups of the periodic table. This review article highlights the recent advances of univalent β-diketiminatometal complexes. Such low-valent metals supported by β-diketiminates display remarkable metal–metal bonding, organic functionality and small molecule activations, reactivity relevant to biological active sites, and catalytic reactivity.

► β-Diketiminates as an important type of spectator ligands.
► β-Diketiminato complexes cover metals across the periodic table.
► β-Diketiminato ligands show diversity of bonding modes.
► Univalent metal β-diketiminates are reactive towards small molecules.
► Univalent metal β-diketiminates can function as catalysts and as models for biological enzymes.